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Academic support for first year students is critical for improving engagement, retention and completion rates at one of Australia’s smallest but fastest-growing universities. A model of Academic Skills Adviser (ASA) support developed over recent years at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) fosters pre- and first-year experiences and helps build academic confidence and self-efficacy for participating students during the progress of undergraduate degrees. This model, therefore, also supports second, third and fourth year undergraduates as well as postgraduate and higher-degree students in achieving academic progress. The ASA team works in collaboration with academic and administrative staff to develop and deliver information sessions, academic skills workshops, and ‘just-in-time’ advice for students at drop-in sessions and in individual and group consultations. Academic skills advice is also offered in the form of face-to-face, phone and virtual (email) student support for students at USC learning hubs within an hour of travel from the main campus at Sippy Downs. The team is proactively increasing the level of support provided on-campus and to university learning hubs in response to increasing student numbers. The ASA team advances the student experience by enhancing student access through provision of timely, coordinated and in-demand learning support services.